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Committee recommends letters supporting several state bills but objects to raising public bid limit
Summary
The ACT committee agreed to ask the borough to send letters of support for most of a package of state bills, including a tax‑exempt property municipal assistance measure, but opposed one proposal to raise the public bidding threshold from about $24,000 to $100,000 and recommended bringing the package to the work session.
The committee reviewed a packet of state bills and an accompanying recommendation to send letters of support to the borough’s state representatives. Sean introduced the set of measures and noted the packet includes language links and summaries for staff review.
Among the bills is a tax‑exempt property municipal assistance measure that would provide formula grants to municipalities that have significant nontaxable property. Sean said the borough currently qualifies under his reading and that the measure could help local finances. He also flagged a stormwater management bill as timely for West Chester.
Chair Lisa Kearns objected to one bill on the packet that she said would increase the public bid threshold from approximately $24,000 to $100,000, calling the jump "too high" and a potential conduit for favoritism: "I just think that's way too high a jump… it gives me the old boy network type feel." Committee members discussed potential guardrails but agreed to recommend support for the packet except for that procurement change. The committee voted to send the endorsements package (minus the procurement bill) to the borough work session for full council consideration.
Staff was asked to include the bill summaries and prepare material for the work session so the full council can review the package and decide whether to send letters of support to state legislators.
